It was the hockey game that would not end.
The Kemptville 73’s were in Navan playing the Grads on Sunday afternoon when the game went into a shootout tied 5-5.
What would happen next would set a near record in the Central Canada Hockey League for the longest shootout on record, lasting a total of 21-rounds.
Kemptville defenceman Eric Sweetapple would finally score the go-ahead goal in the 21st round, maneuvering his body in one direction and tucking the puck in the empty side of the net in the other.
Sweetapple says he came up with the idea as he was sitting on the bench watching the events unfold.
“I had an attempt in Kemptville earlier on in the year, I tried the same move and I saw this goalie had a similar style to the earlier one, I gave it a go.”
Kemptville goalie Trenten Bennett came up big in net stopping all but one attempt in the shootout for the 73’s to take it 2-1 and the game 6-5.
He says he tried not to overthink what was going on.
“You try to just match their speed and you just want to make sure you are not too deep in your crease, just with it going that long I am trying not to think too much and keep it really simple. ”
The shootout was the second longest in league history, only surpassed by a 25-round shootout in 2013 that also saw Kemptville come away with a victory.
